Coupling device



1949- E. J. BAUMGARDNER 2,461,024

COUPLING DEVICE I Filed DOG. 12, 1944 N VEN TOR.

EA RA JBAz/MG/ RDNEP @ZZMQW ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 8, 1949 Earl 3; Baumgardner,iMarion iIoway; assignorr to.. H: A.. Doug-lasMfgFCo Bronson,-. Mich.,,a; cor

porationMofI-Michig-an ApplicationDecember12, 1944; seriernoi eergsna 16 Glaiins.. (c1.'2s5;-173)f This invention relates generally: to: coupling; devices and: more particularly; is directed-etc: a-v fitting or. plug. device, secured: to: the; extremity. of a conduit, such as the. conduit Oharvacuum: cleaner, whereby the hosemavbiedetachably connected" to the: cleaner;

One important object of I the: invention; is to; provide a fitting which'svvill allow the conduitzor; hose to rotate freely-i with respect to' the-fitting: when the latter is connected-tovthe cleanen'. This: arrangement has: provendesirable .becausestwistt-i ing, coiling, and'kinking'of theconduitis;preventeed when an accessory such as a .fi'oor nozzleaconr nected to the opposite end of 'the .conduitfiszbeing. used.

One particular: objecti is to-provide'a fitting which may be'easily and quicklydetachably connected to the cleaner; and i one whereby: the airpassing through the conduit will not escape through the fitting; in other words,- an unintere rupted continuous passage 1 is provided between: the interior of the conduit'and the interior of the cleaner.

Another object is to provide latchmeans-for detachably connecting the plug to the cleaner and resilient means for detachably holding thelatch means tothe plug;

A further object is to provide-a fittingwhich consists of veryfew parts which may. bieeasily and quickly assembled into: acompact unit on ax. production basis.

A still further obiect of the invention istoprovide a'plug or fittingwhichis provided with a manually operable slip ring -for releasing the latchingmeans associated with the'plug;

Other objects and advantages ofthe invention will be apparent after reading the description hereinafter set forth in connection with I the drawing annexed hereto.

In-the drawing:

Figure 1 shows the conduitfi'ttingsecured or assembled with avacuum cleaner,- with portions' ofthe assembly'broken away to" clearly illustrate the details-of construction; I

Figure 2*is' atransverse section" taken" through an appropriate part of'the-couplingfor the pur poseof showingv additional detailsofconstruction;

} Figure dis a sideview'ofithe coupling; and" Figure 4 is another modification: to twhich the invention is susceptible.

Referring more in detail to. the structure mus: trated; numeral I generally; designates the fitting;

or plug; detachably connected tothe" endwa1l32 or:-

a vacuum cleaner housingx.3,-.,and 4-'lssaiconduih or: hose: rotatably associated with the fitting The-end wall :ofithervacuum cleaner housinggis;

provided-witha circularz-opening .5:through'whicl1r the,-.fitting; is. projected. The: opening; is preferea-bl y chamferedaat Bow-hereby tozassist inzpi-loting'z theplug; into the opening; A'receptacleors socketi I for. the;pluggissecuredto :the inner-side offthe; end: wall '25. by; a; plurality-1;o-fz screwsz 83 The: receptaclazincludes; a cylindrical .portiontfl serv inggasua bearing 01; support forethe entrance part. of the plug, an enlarged annularrpjortioml n which. forms? arspace within: which portlonsfof'; the latches: may: op'eraltee; andi air-radially: extending: flange H. Aogasketrilz-is diSIJOSEdLbBtW-EGH the: flange; H and ztheeinnerz siderof the endiwallzof i these-leaner rsoiasztoi'seal :off and .preventfany air fromtbeing: drawn intoathezrcleanerrothet than; through: the passage desired:- i The: receptaclevfl: is; also; provided; with": end": walla l 3;; provided? with anaperturev ll". Ai're'silient washer: 1511s disposed" in the r receptacle 1: and: preferably cemented to the end 'vvai-l W-to serve-"asawield ableabutinent for the inner end or extrem-ity of-f the plug. The washer l5 'is' provided withen' aperture' lvcorresponding to the aperture -Mi Thecondtrit-is of conventional" construct-ion: one extremity'of anelongate'd'dube lTis firmly" secured againstrotati'on' in the 'con'duiti4 andt'its; other extremity extends tbeyond the end" of" the: conduit'andprovidesa fixedfmounting or support aboutwhich the plug, I mawrotate: Theiree encl'loi'ithe tube v I I is preferably provided with a; radialllocking fiange. I81.

The ,plug.preferablyeincliides,a tubular. cylin drical body. l9 constructedl'fromi some desirable material, such. aspyroxlinpla'stic or, phenolic. condensate. The body. is. provided with .a ..round openings 20 through which i the tuber. I I a extends-s wherebw torrotatablyrmount. the plug: The end: of therbodyrwhich firstventersthe-receptacle'l-ioft their cleaner. ispreferably recessedwto, providea: shoulder :21 Which-is sengiagedzblyrthetradialfflange I8 of the tube for holding the plug connected 2110:: the; conduit 2 and: against axial mov'em'enta in one direction: The: opposite: or trailing end. ofrthe: body is also preferably: recessed: to provide. a" shouldenZZ 'wliichaisengaged by the end cf thea conduitwhereby-toholdthe plug against limited axial' movement'iin an opposite direction; The end of the-"conduitheing seated inthe last men=-- tioned recess is well proteoted andserves' -to con ceal any end" which may not have been-= cut or severed asiintnddi Also; any. frayedendsof" the fabric covering on the conduit are concealed from view.

The entrance end of the body I9 is reduced so as to provide a cylindrical portion of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the remainder of the body as clearly illustrated in Figure 1. A cup shaped cap member 23 is snugly fitted over the reduced portion and may be permanently secured in place by flaring or indenting the edge of the cap inwardly into a groove 24 or into the body. The ferrule protects the entrance end of the body 19 from damage or injury and also serves as a locking ring assisting to hold the latches 25 in position. The cap is slightly rounded so as to assist in piloting the pluginto the receptacle 1. The cap is also provided with an aperture 26 corresponding in size to theapertures l4 and l B in the receptacle or socket, and washer 15. Since all of the apertures are of the same diameter the stream of air that is drawn into the cleaner is not interrupted.

The body I9 is provided with a pair of diametrically disposed longitudinally extending shallow channels or pockets 21, generally rectangular in cross section. The end walls 28 and 29 of each channel terminate short of the ends of the plug. The bottom wall adjacent one end of the channel is provided with an upstanding integral lug portion 30 spaced from the end wall 28 to provide a recess 3|. The bottom wall is also provided with a round depression 32 adjacent the lug 30.

A resilient latch 25 is disposed in each of the channels 21. One end of each latch is provided with a laterally bent tongue portion 33 which is caught in the recess 3! and its opposite end is provided with an inclined portion 34 and a down turned stop portion 35 located near the end wall 29 of the channel. Each latch is also provided with a catch consisting of a combined sloping portion 36 and a shoulder portion 3? located intermediate the extremities of the latch. The catches and theinclined portion 34 and a part of the stop portion 35 normally project outwardly with reference to the channel.

A helical spring 38 is preferably disposed in each of the channels at a desirable location with one end of each springbeing seated in the depression 32 and its opposite end engaging the latch at a point intermediate the lateral tongue 33 and the sloping portion 33 whereby to yieldingly urge the major portion of the latch outwardly. Each latch may be provided with a raised portion as illustrated in Figure 4 whereby to assist in holding the inner or said opposite end of each spring on the latch. A projection 39 is preferably provided adjacent the tongue 33 of each latch to engage the inner curved surface of the cap member 23 to compensate for the curvature of the cap and thereby allow'the latches to more completely laterally adjust themselves with respect to the marginal edges of the opening 5 in the end wall of the vacuum cleaner housing, particularly when the plug is being connected to the cleaner.

As stated above one important object of the invention is to provide manually operated means whereby the latches may be operated for releasing or disconnecting the plug from the cleaner. The operating means includes an annular ring 42 slidable longitudinally on the body it. This ring is preferably knurled on its outer surface so as to prevent slippage when the ring is grasped by the hand. It is also provided with an annular recess 4| and an internal groove which receives the inclined portions 34 and the stop portions 35 of the latches. More specifically, the groove includes a combined shoulder portion 42 and an inclined cam portion 43 which are more or less engaged by the portions 35 and 34 of the latches, respectively. The body 19 is provided with an enlargement 44 which forms an abutment 45. A band 46 of an outside diameter corresponding to the outside diameter of the enlargement 54 and the diameter of the recess 4! is disposed in concentric relation to the elongated cylindrical portion of the body whereby to provide an annular space 47 in conjunction with the recess M in the ring 43. An enlarged helical spring 48 is disposed in the space M with one end engaging the bottom of the recess 4| and its other end engaging a radially extending annular flange 49 provided on the band 46 to maintain the flange in engagement with the abutment 45. The recess Al and the band are of a size to conceal the enlarged helical spring 48 from view. The band 46 also serves as a bearing to support a portion of the ring member 40. The ring 40 and band 46 are thus rotatably mounted with respect to each other and to the body l9.

In the modification of the invention illustrated in Figure l, the cap member 23 is omitted so that the end 56 of the body $9 of a plug is adapted to engage the resilient washer l5 disposed in the receptacle 7. Moreover, the body is preferably provided with a groove 51 which receives a split annular wire ring 52 which resiliently presses or urges the tongue 33 of each latch into its respective recess 3i in the body. In view of the fact that the catches are constructed of resilient material and are resiliently supported by the springs 38 and held in place by the resilient or flexible ring 52, the latches are sensitive and yet very positive and efficient in action.

In view of the foregoing, it will be evident that 49 to connect the plug to the cleaner it is merely necessary to grasp either the conduit or plug or both and force the plug into the opening 5 Of the cleaner to cause the sloping portions 36 of the latches to be moved inwardly as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure l and when the entrance end or more specifically the cap member 23 engages and compresses the resilient washer l5 seated in the receptacle 1 to a certain extent the latches will snap outwardly so that the shoulder portions 31 thereof will abut the inner side of the end wall of the housing. When the plug'is thus connected to the cleaner the conduit 4 and tube l'l forming a part thereof may freely rotate with respect to the body of the plug and to the cleaner. To release the plug from the cleaner it is merely necessary to grasp the rin 40 and pull it outwardly whereupon the inclined cam portion 43 of the ring will press the inclined portions 34 and other portions of other latches inwardly to an extent whereby the shoulder portions 31 of the latches become disengaged from the wall of the cleaner. The resilient washer l5 tends to throw the plug outwardly to some extent as it is being disconnected from the cleaner. It will also be evident that when the plug has been disconnected from the cleaner an adjustment of the ring 40 will take place causing the ring 40 to slide along the body i9 and the band 46 until the stop portion 35 of each latch engages the shoulder 42 on the ring to predetermine the position of the ring and limit forward movement thereof. In other words, the ring is normally urged by the enlarged helical spring 48 to a position wherebi the shoulder 42 engages the stop 35-01. the latch. Furthermore, it will be apparent that the bottom essences:-

wall ofthetrecess fliissubstantiallyinialignmentI with the plane 'of the end" wall 29 of ea'chichannel 2'Il so that the s-pring does-mot crossgovenreitherfor thechannels :21: stllllfurther. ittisyto be under stood. that although: the conduit: isiprimar ily adapted for? rotation" withi respect to; the; plug when. the plug: isrconnected to trier-vacuum cleaner; the plug may also zrotateio;someiextent; particularly'im a'i situationwhere. the washer: I 5: is constructed? of. some: desirablez' fibrous: mal terial which: will. allow; the; capsmember or :the' entrance end of the plug to rotate against". the. washers. Also','-.ifl forya-ny reason the body l9 does not rotate freely on the tube 11 the plug will rotate with respect to the cleaner, in which eventtthe shoulder. portions of the latches will slidably bear against the inner side of.-the.end. wall 2 of the vacuum cleaner housing. It' will also be manifest thatin themodific-a-tion of the invention provision is madewhereby to resiliently, hold the latches in place.

, Having thus described my invention; it is obvious :that various other modifications :maybe made in the-same without departing fromthe spirit of the inventiom and, therefore, I do not wish to be understoodas' limiting'myself to the exactv forms, constructiona arrangements; and

combinations: of parts herein shown 1 and described.

I claim:

1. In a device of the kind described, a conduit, a tube having one extremity anchored in said conduit and its other extremity extending free beyond the end of said conduit, a flange provided adjacent the free end of said tube, a nonmetallic body rotatably mounted on said tube, said body being provided with a recess at one extremity receiving the end of a conduit and a recess at its other extremity receving the flange of the tube whereby to hold said body against axial movement with respect to said tube, a recess provided in said body and elongated latch means disposed in said recess, means for securing one end of the latch to the body, and means movable with respect to the body cooperable with the opposite extremity of the latch means for operating the latch means.

2. In a device of the kind described, a conduit, a non-metallic body rotatably mounted withrespect to said conduit, a. recess provided in said body, elongated latch means disposed in said recess, means for securing one extremity of said latch means in said recess so that said latch means may pivot with respect to said recess, and means rotatable and slidable with respect to said body cooperable with the opposite extremity of said latch means for operating said latch means.

3. In a device of the kind described, a conduit, a relatively thick walled body adapted for'entry into an opening rotatably mounted with respect to said conduit, latch means mounted on and substantially within the Wall of said body, means for holding the latch means to said body, and means rotatable with respect to the latch means for operating said latch means.

4. In combination, a socket, a conduit provided with a plug, said socket and said plug being so constructed and arranged that same may be detachably coupled together by means projecting through one into the other, resilient means disposed in said socket acting to urge said plug outwardly with respect to said socket when said plug is being uncoupled from said socket, and means slidable on the plug for actuating the projecting means.

A' plug -devi'ceeadapteditoilbe connecteditogthd end of a conduit, saidi'plugc devicezincluding: 9::

tubular art 'havinmamortion extendingsb'eyond the-end of the conduit; a: relatively' thickz-walled. body part rotatably mounted on; the: portion kOf saiditubular: part, latchvmeansadisposedzsuhstane. tially within thee wall: of saidi body part; and means:- carri'ed :bysaid: body for: operating-said latch-means;

6. A plug device adapted to bezconnected toathe end ofi a; conduit;. .said" plug device: including"? a tubular part, a? tliiclr'rwall'edlbody part rotatably mountedion said: tubular part; latch meanstdiseposedisubstantiallywithin the;.wallloiirsaid:bodyv part;- means carriedzlby saidaibody. for-operating:

said latch means; separate'i resilient: means" a'ctingzon-rsaid':operating meanssfor maintaining said operating means? in a; predetermined: posi tion with respect toisaidi latchsmeansa' v '71 A=.pl-ug:'deviceladaptediito heconnected toithe endlof. a: conduit,.said plug devicedncluding, a tubularpart having:a portion: ion: dispositioni 'in the zconduit:andia b'earing p0rtion;. althickfwalled' body= part: rotatably; mounted? on: said bearing portion, latch means disposed substantially withimtlriawall oi saidib'ody part; and means-for operating;saidflatchuneans, the-position of said operatingmeans beingrpredeterminedlin'zpartfbyi said latch means.

8. A plug device adapted for connection with posed substantially within the wall of said body part, rotatable and slidable means for operating said latch means, resilient means pressing said operating means against said latch means, and means for covering said resilient means providing a bearing for at least a part of said operating means.

10. A plug device including, a body provided with a thickened wall portion having a recess therein, elongated latch means disposed substantially entirely within the confines of said recess in said body, resilient means for holding one extremity of said latch means with respect to said body, and means rotatably carried by said body for operating said latch means.

11. A plug device including, a non-metallic body part having a recess, latch means seated in said recess, and resilient means surrounding the body part assisting to detachably hold said latch means with respect to said body part.

12. In a device of the kind decribed, a conduit, a tube having one extremity anchored to said conduit and its other extremity extending free beyond the end of said conduit, stop means provided adjacent the free end of said tube, a body rotatably mounted on said tube, said body being provided with a recess at one extremity receiving the end of the conduit and abutment means at its other extremity engaging said stop means whereby to hold said body against axial movement with respect to said tube, a recess provided in said body, latch means disposed in said recess, and means movable with respect to the body cooperable with a part: of the latch means for operating thelatch means.

13. In a device of the kind described, a nonmetallic body adapted to be rotatably carried by a conduit, a recess in said body, latch means in said recess, means for holding the latch means inrsaid recess whereby said latch means may pivot, and means slidable with respect to said body cooperable with said latch means for operating the same. V

14. A plug adapted to be connected to the end of a conduit, a recess in said plug, latch means disposed in said recess, and a split ring actable on said latch means for holding the same in said recess by pressure exerted in a direction toward the longitudinal axis of the body.

l5. Aplug adapted to be connected to the end of a conduit, said plug having a thickened wall portion provided with an elongated exterior recess, latch means seated in said recess, a ferrule covering said recess and latch means, an opening provided in said ferrule through which a holding portion of the latch means extends, and means slidable on the plug for operating the latch means.

16. In a device of the kind described, a conduit, a tube having one extremity anchored to said conduit and its other extremity extending free beyond the end of said conduit, stop means provided adjacent the free end of said tube, a

REFERENCES 01m) The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

, UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,004,967 Williams June 18, 1935 2,102,802 Lofgren Dec. 21, 1937 2,150,765 Forsberg Mar. 14, 1939 2,222,018 Bruce Nov. '19, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France June 26, 1939 Number 

